Lee M.-H.Huang C.-FLai H.-CLin C.-YDai C.-YCHUN-JEN LIUWang J.-HHuang J.-FSu W.-PHUNG-CHIH YANGKee K.-MYeh M.-LChuang P.-HSHIH-JER HSUHuang C.-IJIA-HORNG KAOCHIEH-CHANG CHENChen S.-HJeng W.-JYang H.-IYuan YLu S.-NSheen I.-SCHEN-HUA LIUPeng C.-YYu M.-LChuang W.-LChen C.-J.2021-07-122021-07-1220172045-2322https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85020937931&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-017-02313-y&partnerID=40&md5=485b763b1209b6646ee4eccec2d46cfahttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/570859This follow-up study enrolled chronic hepatitis C patients to evaluate the treatment efficacy and to identify post-treatment seromarkers associated with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with a sustained virological response (SVR) or nonsustained virological response (NSVR). A total of 4639 patients who received pegylated interferon and ribavirin during 2004-2013 were followed until December 2014. HCC was confirmed through health examinations and data linkage with a national database. A total of 233 HCC cases were reported after 26,163 person-years of follow-up, indicating an incidence of 8.9 per 1000 person-years: 6.9 for SVR and 21.6 for NSVR per 1000 person-years. The associated risk of HCC in patients with SVR was 0.37 (0.22-0.63) for those without cirrhosis and 0.54 (0.31-0.92) for those with cirrhosis compared with their respective counterparts with NSVR. Among patients with SVR, advanced age, male gender, cirrhosis, decreased platelet count, and increased aspartate aminotransferase and α-fetoprotein levels were associated with HCC (p < 0.001). The treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients before they developed cirrhosis showed a higher efficacy than did the treatment of those who had already developed cirrhosis. Patients with SVR may still have a risk of HCC and need to be regularly monitored. ? 2017 The Author(s).[SDGs]SDG3antivirus agent; biological marker; adult; aged; blood; chronic hepatitis C; complication; female; genetics; genotype; Hepacivirus; human; incidence; liver cell carcinoma; liver cirrhosis; liver tumor; male; middle aged; proportional hazards model; risk assessment; risk factor; treatment outcome; virology; Adult; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Biomarkers; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Female; Genotype; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Incidence; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcomejournal article10.1038/s41598-017-02313-y286233312-s2.0-85020937931